Road in a rush after students risk their lives
Source: Xinhua |
July 26, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WORKERS are rushing to build a road to connect an isolated village with a major highway in northwest China's Gansu Province after pictures were posted online showing students holding on to a rope to cross a fast-flowing river, arousing concern for their safety.
The 5-meter wide road, suitable for motor vehicles, will connect with the mountainous village of Shichuanba, in about 20 days, the local government said.
Earlier this month, villagers uploaded photos of students climbing along a rope to cross the river, saying they had to use this dangerous route to go to school because their only bridge had been destroyed by floods two years ago.
The posts, which accused the local government of failing to honor its commitment to build a new bridge, attracted media attention and sparked widespread anger at the government's lack of action and concern for the students' safety.
The original bridge was financed and built by villagers in 2009. It was destroyed in August 2010 by the torrential rains that triggered the Zhouqu mudslides about 120 kilometers upstream on the Bailongjiang River. More than 1,430 people died in the mudslides and 331 others were reported missing.
After the bridge was destroyed, some villagers looking for a more convenient transportation route came up with the risky rope solution.
An official with the government of Wenxian County, which administers the village, said the villagers did not necessarily need to use the rope to reach the main road, most villagers walked 30 minutes to another bridge.
The new road, which is costing 35,000 yuan (US$5,800), will greatly reduce travel time to the main road, as villagers will be able to use motor vehicles, said Wang Jinliang, Party chief of the town of Sheshu, which administers the village.
Currently the village has just one small pedestrian track.
The local government could not currently afford a new bridge, which is estimated to cost 2.6 million yuan, Wang said. However, a new bridge is in the county's plan.
Wenxian still has 10 villages of 298 communities that do not have driveable roads.
Transport has always posed difficulties in the mountainous area, and has hindered development of the local economy, said Shang Qiwen, director of the county's poverty relief office.
Shang said 60 percent of Wenxian's 210,000 rural residents lived below the national poverty line, and most live deep in the mountains where means of transportation are poor.
The 5-meter wide road, suitable for motor vehicles, will connect with the mountainous village of Shichuanba, in about 20 days, the local government said.
Earlier this month, villagers uploaded photos of students climbing along a rope to cross the river, saying they had to use this dangerous route to go to school because their only bridge had been destroyed by floods two years ago.
The posts, which accused the local government of failing to honor its commitment to build a new bridge, attracted media attention and sparked widespread anger at the government's lack of action and concern for the students' safety.
The original bridge was financed and built by villagers in 2009. It was destroyed in August 2010 by the torrential rains that triggered the Zhouqu mudslides about 120 kilometers upstream on the Bailongjiang River. More than 1,430 people died in the mudslides and 331 others were reported missing.
After the bridge was destroyed, some villagers looking for a more convenient transportation route came up with the risky rope solution.
An official with the government of Wenxian County, which administers the village, said the villagers did not necessarily need to use the rope to reach the main road, most villagers walked 30 minutes to another bridge.
The new road, which is costing 35,000 yuan (US$5,800), will greatly reduce travel time to the main road, as villagers will be able to use motor vehicles, said Wang Jinliang, Party chief of the town of Sheshu, which administers the village.
Currently the village has just one small pedestrian track.
The local government could not currently afford a new bridge, which is estimated to cost 2.6 million yuan, Wang said. However, a new bridge is in the county's plan.
Wenxian still has 10 villages of 298 communities that do not have driveable roads.
Transport has always posed difficulties in the mountainous area, and has hindered development of the local economy, said Shang Qiwen, director of the county's poverty relief office.
Shang said 60 percent of Wenxian's 210,000 rural residents lived below the national poverty line, and most live deep in the mountains where means of transportation are poor.
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